Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what singer/songwriter Brynn Stanley had to say:

Originally from the east coast, I moved to Los Angeles for five years and had the time of my life. I met so many amazing people and felt so alive going after my passions, singing and acting. It was extremely rewarding and full of adventure, but there was always something missing for me especially during the holiday season.

Christmas in California was a different kind of celebration, for some very obvious reasons: it didn’t get cold, there were palm trees instead of pine and fewer fireplaces in use. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I found that holiday festivities were brought to life even more so in LA despite the smell of sunscreen! Even so, something was still missing for me…notably family and traditions.

It’s hard to recreate the nostalgia of my childhood, i.e. putting on layers of clothing to walk out in the snow late at night just to listen to the quiet, feeling the cold snowflakes melt on my face, listening to all the Christmas classics like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole around a roaring fire, warming up with a cup of cocoa, the anticipation of exchanging gifts and watching loved ones light up.

There was always so much magic in the air. I even remember searching the sky to see if I could sneak a peek of Santa’s reindeer and his sleigh. I didn’t realize at the time, but that special childhood feeling of magic and love stayed with me throughout my life and led me to write my first Christmas song, “Selfie with Santa”. The song’s lyrics are told through the eyes of a child…me. However, I’m not entirely clear where all of the lyrics came from as “selfies” did not exist in my childhood. All I remember was trying to write in LA, longing to be home on the east coast and picturing my mom and dad’s living room during Christmas time. This room was where my family gathered, decorated the tree, shared stories and laughter, and opened memorable gifts.

To me, Christmas is a timeless feeling. “Selfie with Santa” aims to recreate the magic that I felt as a child during the holiday season. Children across many generations have wanted to somehow “catch” a glimpse of Santa. Taking a “selfie” is the latest way to do it, but a “selfie” is more than just a picture…it’s a memory of a moment captured. I hope you continue making joyous memories for years to come with family and friends beginning with your own “Selfie with Santa”.